Crazy train comes to Michaels Arts & Crafts

What a day. Don't know if it was the full moon or the rain and storms but whatever it was brought in the Crazy Train and all the nuts got let out at our store today. I really can't understand how a person can come into and arts & crafts store cranky. Really people lighten up.

Sometimes they forget that they are in an"arts & crafts store" and start asking for things like, curtain rods and shoes (yes, I said shoes). I actually went up to a customer and asked if I could help her with anything (that was my first mistake) and she said yes. I am quoting her now "I was in last week and in the front of your store you had this black thing and you can hang things from it. And it had this shape (hand gestures) Do you still have it?" I then asked more questions to try to narrow down exactly what she was looking for. It didn't get any better. After I, and by this time, another associate tried to figure out what she wanted (there was no way either one of us was going to figure out what she wanted because she didn't even know) I turned to her and said "I'm sorry, we sold out of those. Is there anything else you need today?" She smiled and said no thank you and went on her way.
She was the most normal of the customer we had all day.

These are days when I'm glad I'm a potter. I can go home turn on some music, throw some clay and feel much better.

How did it become the middle of August already

I'm really having a hard time understanding how the middle of August got here so fast. The Monroe Apple Festival is Sept. 10th and 11th and may I just say "I AM NOT READY". But not to fear I will be ready. Tired and cranky, but ready. I've changed so many things this summer that I am having a interesting time trying to adjust. Going from a part-time job (mind you with full time hours) to a full time job (at Michaels Arts & Crafts) and trying to stay on top of my jewelry classes and my business is a challenge. But it's the challenges in life that keep us going. So I will go on and it will all be good (and tired).

I had a customer order 10 of my mini tidbit bowls so she can give them as Christmas gifts. So I have been working on those and yesterday a customer asked how much it would be to buy all of Linda's starry night cityscape dishes. Probably should call Linda and tell her. LOL.

Well gotta get ready for work. Talk to you all later.

Exploding Pots

I have been throwing pottery for some time now. Always real careful how I handle my new creations. In the back of my mind thinking about the possibility of loosing a pot or two in my kiln because of and air bubble or maybe the inside of the pot was not quite dry yet. Whatever the reason this happens it does happen. But not to me. Not in all these years. I considered myself really lucky. Until now. Yep folks. Until now.

I had a custom order from a lady in Brooklyn. She ordered 10 bowls. She needed them real soon. So did I rush the pots into the kiln. I didn't think so. Was there an air bubble in my pots. Don't think so. Was the pottery not totally dry. Didn't think so. But alas something went horribly wrong.

Just as I entered into where my kiln was running I heard the sound no potter EVER wants to hear. Pop, Pop, Pop. Kilns too hot to open. So I waited. Knowing with dread what happened to the Brooklyn lady's bowls.

So the next day I opened the kiln. Yep! Done. It seems two bowls exploded and took out 3 others. There really are no words for what I was feeling at that moment in time. I just stared into my kiln, not really sure how long I stood there. My husband saw me staring into my kiln and came over, looked into the kiln. His words were "what are you gonna do?". I looked at my husband of over 30 years and for the first time I had nothing to say.

There was no saving these pots. So I e-mailed the lady in Brooklyn and explained what happened. She was VERY understanding. Thank God! It was too late to make her the bowls she needed. Two of the bowls were for a couple of friends with special sayings in them. They were ok. So those she can have. The 8 others bowls she needed were custom bowls she needed for family members. Since I lost 5 bowls I was heartbroken that she could not take the surviving 3.

At the end of the day She was very nice and said that she understands the nature of my profession. Some things are just out of my hands. She is still very happy with me and will order from me again. Thank the Pottery Gods!!!

Since I'm sure none of you have seen a kiln full of exploded pottery here's a picture. It ain't pretty.

Well tomorrow is another day. Me and my muses are tired and still in a little shock. But we will be fine and start again tomorrow. I really do love to play in mud.

Buttery Beauty Collection by Heirloomlace on Artfire

My pale yellow pendant was included in this luscious collection.

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=my_collections&op=widgets&cid=22379

This weeks featured artist

This weeks Featured Artisan is Allurynn - Creations by Moonlight! Alluryn has wonderful creations in her shop! A Must have for every jewelry box!! You can find Creations by Moonlight on:

Etsy
Website
Twitter
Facebook

You can grab the code for your blog here: http://www.box.net/shared/flrg7uret9

Featured Artisan_Tali's Creations

This weeks Featured Artisan is Tali - Tali's Creations! Beautiful creations by a beautiful lady! You can find Tali's Creations at:

Artfire

Facebook Profile

Facebook Page

You can get the code for your blog here:

Ok the bowls are out of the kiln and for a first time I think "not to bad". I was really excited to open the kiln and see how this new technique would turn out.

I used a matte blue green glaze (I love this color) then placed round flat back colored glass pebbles (bought at Michaels Arts & Crafts). (Have I ever mentioned that my "real" job is working for Michaels? Well I do. Anyway. I placed the glass around the rim. On the bottom I arranged some glass pebbles to look like a flower. And this was the result.

I also had a couple of mini bowls that I decided to add glass pebbles to the bottom of. These I really liked. There is a lot to be said for simplicity.

Well there they are. My first attempt. Not sure what I was so nervous about. I will keep on practicing this technique. The possibilities are endless.

A watched Pot

They say "A watched pot never boils" and I think this is very true. My kiln is still too hot to open so I can't check to see how my mud and glass bowl is coming out. Normally opening my kiln is like Christmas (especially with a glaze firing) but today I have more anticipation, speculation, excitement and even a little stress. LOL. Silly me. Like I said in my last post, I have been wanting to mix mud and glass in a piece. So this is really exciting for me. If it doesn't come out how I envision it that's ok. It's a starting point. I will figure out what went wrong and adjust things on my next try. Maybe that is the most exciting part. Learning from the mistakes and trying again.

Well maybe in a couple of more hours I will be able to open the kiln and see how it turned out. Wish me luck!

Mixing ceramics and glass

I was at an arts and crafts fair several years ago and saw a potter that incorporated glass into her pottery. I absolutely loved the look and have wanted to try it every since. Went to try it a couple of times and just chickened out. All the voices in my head were like "your gonna ruin a perfectly good bowl, you don't know what you are doing, just glaze it and get on with your life" UGH!! Well I finally told the voices in my head to "shut up". So yesterday I took a perfectly lovely bowl glazed it and added glass. It is now in my kiln and whatever happens....happens. I must say I am really excited.

Sometimes you just gotta do it. Don't question, don't look at all the possibilities of what could or could not work out. Just do it. And I did. Tomorrow I will open up my kiln and see what happens. Either way I will let you know and maybe even post a picture.

Have a great day.

Blue Burgundy Treasury

Two treasuries today. Wow!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d6d2d45cf9f8eef42be83ba/blue-burgundy

Teaching Jewelry Making Classes

Besides my regular job and making jewelry and pottery I am now a jewelry making instructor. I will be teaching the fundamentals of jewelry making. Crimping, stringing, wire wrapping, wire crochet, knotting, etc. I've had a couple of classes so far and they have been a blast. One thing I have found is that I never get tired of learning and sharing new techniques or new methods of creating. I find myself learning from my students while they learn from me. Creativity truly is a facinating and wonderful thing.
There was a quote I learned years ago, not sure who it was but it said "Everyone is my superior in that I can learn from them" I believe this. If you give any opportunity a chance you can learn from it and from the people you are involved with. And probably make some great friends along the way.

Passionate Pink Treasury

I was so pleased to be included in this Passionate Pink treasury courtesy of on fire for handmade by misspercillapomeroy. So many pretty pink items. Check out all the wonderful artists that were also included.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d6d125808768eefa4f28b59/passionate-pink-courtesy-of-the-on-fire

Linda's fern bowl was included in this new treasury from CherishedSaints on etsy.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d5a9ea36fa86d914d821dc1/the-orange-and-the-green

Cherished Saints is a collection of silver religious saints and icons, new and vintage (from France, Italy and other worldly places). Many include a bit of history and an 18" sterling bead chain. know that you're helping horses from being slaughtered as 10% of each sale goes to: http://www.newenglandequinerescues.com

Check out her shop at www.cherishedsaints.etsy.com

A good way to stop procrastinating.

Eating the Frog

03JAN2011No Comments

by hmorrowin Marketing

I can procrastinate with the best of the best procrastinators. I have projects that I have procrastinated doing or finishing for YEARS! However, you probably believe that I do more than the average bear. I do, because I eat my frogs.

Many years ago I read a business book by Brian Tracy called “Eat that Frog!” It was 21 ways to avoid procrastination and get more done. It was an easy read, so it didn’t end up in the pile of business books I still have yet to read. His theory is that if you write your “to do” list, you do the thing that you want to do least first and all the rest will be easy. You eat the ugliest frog first.

So, this is what I do. I make a “to do” list the night before or first thing in the morning and then figure out the thing I want to do least and do that first. It’s not a perfect science – I sometimes will do the thing on my list that is going to be the most challenging – even though I might enjoy it, because once I have that done, the rest will be easy.

For instance, writing this article was on my list along with laundry and unloading the dishwasher (two things I really dislike doing). Not to mention the really fun things like going and throwing some clay. So I got up and started writing first. I enjoy writing; however, this is going to take a lot more time to do than laundry, plus it has to be sent to my awesome proofreader (my Mom), so she can get it back to me in time to post it on my blog and write my eZine.

Another way that I get things done more efficiently is to lump the tasks together and until I am doing that task – I do not think about it. A good example is paying my bills. I try to pay them only twice a month, so when I am not paying them – I am not worried about how they are going to be paid (as it serves no purpose). I learned this technique from Eckhart Tolle in his interviews with Oprah. He talks about how we spend so much time worrying about something that needs to be done, so we don’t get other things done when we should.

The final technique I am going to share today is the use of a timer. I use this technique when my time is truly limited and yet I need to get something done. I figure out how much time I have to allot to the task and then I set the kitchen timer. I usually do this for getting housework done. It works well as it allows me to focus on only that task – no reading email, checking facebook, etc.

Now, about the things I do procrastinate. I tend to procrastinate on big projects that have no end in sight and this is because I have not found a way to break them into smaller projects that are more achievable. However, I do not beat myself up about these projects. I know they are there, if I ever find the time or figure out how to task them down, they will get done. In the meantime, I eat the frogs I can.

How do you keep yourself from procrastinating what needs to be done?

© 2010 Heather C. Morrow. All rights reserved

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? Of course you can, as long as you include the following with it:

Heather C. Morrow, owner of Pottery Daily, helps emerging artists express their true value and get paid what they are worth. Her products and services show you how to make more money, save more time while enjoying the freedom in your art. For your FREE audio go to www.marketandsellyourart.com.

Putting yourself out there.

Read this blog and had to share it. Definitely worth the read. I know most of us had the same thoughts about getting our artwork out there.

Putting Yourself Out There

6th
September 2010
0 Comments

I was a production/directing theatre major and as part of my education, I had to go out on stage. One time I was sent out in a full beard as Polonius in Hamlet, but that’s a story for another time. I hated being on stage, because like 90% of the population, I had stage fright. What if the audience thought I wasn’t good enough or I forgot my lines? I much preferred being behind the scenes doing everything from props to directing. Of course, deep down, I hoped that someone would “discover” me. But how could they? I was not stepping into the spotlight to be seen.

I guess wearing the beard on stage did change my perspective, because after you’ve done that – you can pretty much do anything. Somewhere along the line I realized that in order to be discovered I had to step out from behind the curtain. I also learned that it was easier to be me “on stage” then to try to be a character. Please note the word, be. Like, “to be or not to be, that is the question …”.

Hiding behind the curtain or keeping your art stored away for someday when you are “discovered” does not serve you. You have to get not only your work, but also yourself out there to sell your work. If a potential customer knows you, they are more likely to buy from you.

I can hear the excuses (see below). I’ve made the excuses, too. However, if you want to “be” a successful artist, you have to stop making excuses.

• My art isn’t good enough! It’s art and with it comes art critics. Some people are going to love it, some are going to not be interested in it, and in some cases, some people will hate it. Get over it. People are entitled to their opinions and for every one person who has something negative to say, there will be 9 people who have something nice to say and some who will even buy your art.
• I don’t have enough inventory. Less is sometimes more. I always think I won’t have enough to fill a space and I have more than I can use. Remember this is about stepping out onto stage, not necessarily about selling something (although it would be nice). You cannot be discovered if you are in your studio full time.
• It’s too much work to sell. Yeah, it can be work; however, it can also be fun – if you let it. Talk to your potential customers; find out what they are shopping for. Maybe it is something you left back in your studio and you can meet their needs. Or maybe you’ll get a commission.

If you are already doing arts & crafts shows or your work is in galleries, look for other opportunities to display your art work. What local businesses in your area have shelf or wall space that you could fill? The more your potential customers see of your work, the more likely they will buy from you.

Get online; at minimum have a store front to send people to. Etsy.com or other targeted gallery sites like PotteryDaily.com are a low cost way for customers to reach you.

It’s time to turn the spotlight on and step out onto the stage . . . remember that you will not be discovered waiting in the wings.

© 2010 Heather C. Morrow. All rights reserved

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? Of course you can, as long as you include the following with it:

Heather C. Morrow, owner of Pottery Daily, helps emerging artists express their true value and get paid what they are worth. Her products and services show you how to make more money, save more time while enjoying the freedom in your art. For your FREE audio go to www.marketandsellyourart.com.

posted by hmorrow
Filed under: Uncategorized

Fall into a new season

While the calendar still says summer the last couple of days say "falls a comin". I must admit I love the fall. The cool crisp air, the change of colors on the trees, having to wear a nice soft comfy sweatshirt. But with the fall comes the holidays and the big push to get products in our shops that say "It's the holidays!! Buy me." I hate the holidays! No that's not right, I love the holidays. I hate the stress of the holidays. So much to do so little time. Trying to figure out what my customers will want to buy. This year I'm going to do this a little differently. All my family and friends tell me just to make the things I love to make. Don"t try to figure out what the world wants. I love making pottery. I love the feel of the clay and that moment when it's the clay that tells me what it wants to be. There is a zen moment that happens to me sometimes when I'm working on a piece. It's the quite that I don't notice until a couple of hours have past and I realize that I have worked on a piece for this long and it is just right. Not sure how it got that way, but it did. And I am happy. So this holiday season I will be making things I like for my customers to enjoy and hopefully want to own.

Treasures in Blue Etsy Treasury

Just found out we were included in this treasury on etsy. Want to say thank you to CatKeeper from Nothern Sea Glass for including the Starry Night Cityscape plates in this lovely treasury. Stop by and visit her shop she makes beautiful jewelry from sea glass.

Link to the treasury is : http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c5a5fbfed528eefc6d8234a/treasures-in-blue

Handmade Spark - Doublemuse

Handmade Spark - Doublemuse

How to make a clay pottery salt pig salt keeper on the wheel

Teddy Bear Art & Craft Festival

Well things went pretty well at the Teddy Bear festival. Except for having to shut down a little early because of Tornado warnings in Litchfield County. Sales were a little low but I think it was the type of festival. Geared more toward doing things for the kids. (i.e. face painting, sand art, teddy bear parade, etc, etc, etc) Sometimes you just don't know what to expect from an arts & crafts fair. Will I do this festival again next year? I'll have to think about it when the time comes.
I was approched by a woman who is in charge of an Art Faire in Litchfield (yes the same litchfield with the tornado warnings) she asked if I was available to do their Faire. Told her I definetaly would. I haven't done an arts & crafts show there but I know it's a more artsy community, so hopefully I will do well there.

Father's Day weekend Linda and I will be at the Monroe Congregational Church Strawberry Festival in Monreo, CT. This is our first 2 day show! Kinda excited. We've done shows in Monroe before and have always done well. We'll see, I will keep you posted.